In a brief career that's been defined both by meteoric talent and an inability to stay in training, 'TDN Rising Star' Copper Town (Speightstown) will finally get a chance to show the entire racing world what he can do while going postward as the likely favorite in Saturday's GI Cigar Mile H. at Aqueduct, the last top-level event of the calendar year in New York.
Debuting with a runner-up effort last February at Gulfstream, the bay stamped himself as a major talent with a 3 3/4-length graduation over future Grade II winner Backyard Heaven (Tizway) more than six months later to earn his 'Rising Star' nod. Repeating with another comprehensive score over allowance foes a few weeks after that, Copper Town was unseen for over a year before resurfacing Oct. 13 at Keeneland. Yet again, he was extremely impressive, breaking last and going widest of all on the turn before drawing off to a dazzling five-length success. He has drilled four times in the interim at Belmont for this first stakes try, highlighted by a five-furlong spin in 1:00 3/5 (2/42) on the training track Nov. 18.
The most well-known of Copper Town's seven rivals in this $750,000 affair is the globetrotting Mendelssohn (Scat Daddy). Spending the first half of his career on turf and synthetic, the $3-million Keeneland September buy cruised to an 18 1/2-length romp in the G2 UAE Derby, but made no impact after a troubled start in the GI Kentucky Derby, finishing last. Unable to find the winner's circle since Dubai, he nevertheless has proven himself a quality dirt runner, finishing second in the GI Travers S., third in the GI Jockey Club Gold Cup and fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic last out after setting a fast pace Nov. 3.
Patternrecognition (Adios Charlie) looks to build on a career high last out for trainer Chad Brown. A winner of just two of his first eight races, including a runner-up finish to Copper Town in that one's aforementioned allowance rout, he scored a game victory in a Saratoga optional claimer Aug. 11 and stepped up to capture the GII Kelso H. in front-running fashion last out Sept. 22 at Belmont. The tactical 5-year-old draws the advantageous outside post here.
Hard-knocking gelding Sunny Ridge (Holy Bull) ran a good second behind that rival in the Kelso, closing into a slow pace, and looks for his first graded score since annexing the GIII Withers S. at this oval in January of 2016.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
